MSTRKRFT
The Looks


4.0
excellent

Review

by RedMorningLight USER (2 Reviews)
March 19th, 2007 | 12 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Canadian duo with a ridiculously cool name, serve up a ridculously cool album full of infectious grooves.

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, MSTRKRFT (Masterkraft less the vowels for those of you with a cunning eye!) is the brainchild of former Death From Above 1979 bassist Jesse F. Keeler and the producer on their only album, AL-P (Alex Puodziukas). After starting with several remixes of tracks from such artists as DFA1979 label mates Panthers, Bloc Party and Metric, the duo have now decided to unleash their first LP, The Looks, upon dance floors all over the world.

In contrast to fellow electronica darlings, The Knife, this album focuses on a positive and upbeat groove through out, shunning the darker elements often present in DFA’s work. In fact, at times it bares great similarity to the two huge UK chart singles, ‘Yeah Yeah’ and ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’ which have been gracing discos and parties for what seems like an eternity now. The truth is though, these were both good pop/dance singles, the kind that please almost everyone at the height of a party and perhaps what is most pleasing about this album is how they have taken similar grooves and stretched them into a constantly pleasing, yet often surprising LP.

Opener ‘Work On You’ guides the listener (or dancer) into the album with a gradual build up of elements, a simple slow beat, computerised vocals and various other bleeps and clicks that overall culminate in a lengthy, yet never boring introduction. It is when the crash of cymbals guides you into a cheesy, very (very) European trance style groove at the start of second track ‘Easy Love’ that you really know the party is starting. The track is simplicity at its most pleasing and hints at rock roots with a disco-funk guitar tomfoolery in the closing seconds. Following this we are clicked and clapped all the way through ‘She’s Good for Business’ and I guarantee, as the song says, you will “shake shake shake it”.

‘Paris’ is perhaps the most complete song on the album, it feels like it would be best at home on a fashion runway but is equally happy just to buzz along in your living room and it is perhaps the only time on the album that the duo decide to follow a darker, more sinister tone. The albums title track ‘The Looks’ is perhaps the weakest and I feel overall it lacks direction however it has still got enough a groove to get a good dance out of you and others may prefer its minimal beat. I am CERTAIN I have heard ‘Street Justice’ on some modelling TV show or something, and it follows the same swagger to ‘Paris’, this time replacing the sinister tone with a more aggressive and confrontational theme.

‘Bodywork’ provides a breather from the hostile atmosphere of those previously mentioned tracks and returns to the robotic-voice with bleeps I’m sure I’ve heard before. Oh, on Sonic when I was 8. Anyway, as I type I am fighting my limbs urge to perform the robot such is the infectiousness of this track. Closing track, ‘Neon Knights’ is the one that bares the most obvious influences from DFA, its sporadic beeps, heavy beat and aggressive melody could encourage some ambitious dance moves from that person who’s had a few too many to drink and is contemplating repainting your bathtub. It is a worthy ending to a very enjoyable album, which is equally at home accompanying a night in by the pc.

Pros:
- Good flow and mix of ideas
- Hugely catchy melodies and beats with definate pop appeal

Cons:
- Could prove too cheesy for some fans of more sophisticated releases

Happy reading,
Josh


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3.3
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Comments:Add a Comment 
Kyle
March 20th 2007


667 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Ah can't believe nobody commenbted on this, great first review dude



Been meaning to check this out for ages.

scallahan06
April 7th 2007


124 Comments


YES MAN! nice review. my fav track is neon knights. this album is getting pretty bland to me now though because i've listened to it hundreds of times. but i cant wait till album #2!

trustxdialect
April 7th 2007


1502 Comments


iTunes put out a song of theirs for free. It was good, but didn't strike my interest.

Two-Headed Boy
April 7th 2007


4527 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

It's really a hit or miss band, pretty much. It hit me, and I like it, but it's just not that great in my opinion.

bloodycrepe
April 8th 2008


55 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

'At times it bares great similarity to the two huge UK chart singles, ‘Yeah Yeah’ and ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’



NO



Fucking brilliant album. To get into MSTRKRFT you gotta hear their awesome remixes aswell, also their Dj sets are amazing.

HighandDriving
April 9th 2008


3288 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Still, light years behind DFA 1969.



Sharkboyyy
April 10th 2008


16 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

My friend showed me these guys awhile ago and while they're nothing amazing, this album is so much fun to listen to, haha.

VUVUVU
September 7th 2008


2 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Saw them at Splendour in the Grass and they were nothing short of amazing. I find

their remixes are often better than songs on this album.This Message Edited On 09.07.08

StreetlightRock
September 7th 2008


4017 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Definitely, MSTRKRFT remixes are usually hot as hell, but this album is meh.

farglesnuff
October 8th 2008


241 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

if you like electronica and have a chance to see them, do it and theres no way youll be dissapointed. they are so amazing. the

looks isnt that great of an album, but theyre remixes are pretty effing dope. i had a great time ravin out to em live....This Message Edited On 10.07.08

bloc
April 30th 2009


70647 Comments


damn, i love the name of this band

TenebraeInvictus
August 4th 2020


102 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Been playing this again recently, wish this had gotten more attention



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